Fatal rhabdomyolysis caused by lipid-lowering therapy

Treatment of hypercholesterolemia has been shown to reduce mortality in pat ients with coronary artery disease. Patients with severe lipid abnormalitie s may require high-dose statin therapy, at times used in combination with a dditional agents. We report a case of fatal rhabdomyolysis caused by the co mbination of simvastatin and gemfibrozil. Clinicians should be aware of ris k factors for rhabdomyolysis, which include underlying renal insufficiency, high-dose statin therapy, and combination therapy with a fibrate.